Pakistani forces suffered casualties in a bomb blast on Friday morning in the Daghari area on the outskirts of Quetta, local sources said.
Sources said unknown assailants targeted a foot patrol near Sherdil Stop, close to Daghari Cross, while personnel were engaged in clearing the railway track.
Initial reports suggested that at least five personnel were killed or injured in the explosion.
Following the blast, helicopters were seen hovering above the area, while armoured vehicles and additional contingents of forces were deployed.
Local residents said drones were also spotted in the sky. However, authorities had not issued any confirmation at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, late Thursday night the railway track between Sibi and Dhadar was destroyed after explosive material was planted on it.
In a separate incident, armed men targeted a Pakistani forces’ checkpoint near Peero Bridge in the Naseerabad area.
In a statement issued to the media, Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) spokesperson Dostain Baloch said fighters “destroyed a railway track by planting explosive material in the area between Sibi and Dhadar.”
He said the group also targeted a checkpoint near Peero Bridge, claiming fighters “fired multiple rounds from a grenade launcher, which landed inside the post and caused human and material losses to the occupying forces.”
The spokesperson said the organization accepts responsibility for both attacks and added that such operations would continue “until the freedom of Balochistan.”
No armed group had claimed responsibility for the Daghari blast near Quetta at the time of publication.